It’s Champions League night. A loss against Bournemouth was devastating and a win today will wash out a bit of that. We are playing Shakhtar Donetsk at home, and a win today will also bring us back in the top 8.
Playing XI is out. Mikel has fixed 2 of my complaints with whatever was available. Trossard makes into the midfield in place of Merino, so we are not going with three DMs today. Martinelli is back into the team with Havertz up top and Jesus in place of Saka. Sterling should be a ‘give him 15 min in a 2-0 game’ option, not a starter.
Line up looks okay to me.
European nights are always nervy. There are upsets but we should be winning against Shakhtar comfortably and I am hoping to see all 3 of our forwards scoring today. I hate to say it but a 1-0 win is not going to fix our confidence. We need the attacking football back today, we need to be in control for the whole 90 min, we need to show that we can win without making any errors.
And the seniors needs to take that responsibility. Trossard has played enough game, Jesus was brought for his huge experience and was believed to mentor the likes of Martinelli and Saka And Thomas Partey needs to keep control of that midfield. It’s Champions League night, couple years back – these same set of players were dreaming of these nights and when you got one, you need to show that with your actions.
Right, there is one more very important thing I have been talking about. We need to finish in top 8 of the group stage at any cost. I don’t want us to see playing 2 qualification games later in the stage.
It’s too early to say anything but there is some serious competition. And the fact that Bayern, Barcelona and Real Madrid are on the same points with us and are going to compete for the top is going to make our life difficult. What can we do? Win the easy ones and put fights against the best teams in Europe.
We have an easy one today. Lets go out in red and white and WIN this. Lets beat them 4-0 and get back our confidence.
See you during the match. #COYG
Are you going to the game today, Marc? Looking forward to your live game views after.
Tony
No not going today – I’ve got a busy week at work and to be honest I’m so fucked off with Arteta at the moment combined with being able to pick up £97 for selling my ticket on exchange I just couldn’t be arsed with it.
Marc
Reg ESR earlier fitness, obviously ElB was lying. Remember , a few months ago after arteta and his poodle press spoke about ESR having niggling problems, finally ESR himself clarified that he was now fit…..and the usual spiel about trying his best to impress the Boss during training.
Marc
I understand how you feel. You won’t be able to unsee what occurs on the pitch as barring a miracle I don’t se us faring well tonight. The money will assuage your pissed off-ness a little, maybe lol.
Hoopah
Its obvious Arteta was lying and did it to drive a home grown player out of the club – a player who would be a perfect replacement for Ode whilst he’s out.
I’ve no idea of who’s available for today but you have to wonder if Arteta will punish Trossard for his mistake last week.
Live score has this line up.
Raya
Partey White Gabs Kiwior
Rice Merino. Havertz
Sterling Trossard Martinelli
Doesn’t work for me if true?
Partey isn’t a RB as we’ve seen before. Havertz isn’t an 8. Rice isn’t a creator and Marts will be putting in crosses to midgets vs giant CDs.
Looks like a car crash waiting to happen.
Do you know any different TRVL?
FotMob is a VR little different.
Raya.
Partey white Gabs Kiwior
Jesus Rice Merino Martinelli
Havertz. Trossard
Can Kiwior keep Salah quiet?
Partey & Jesus will be weak links and targeted. In possession.
Time will tell…..
What a player Palmer is and will grow into the Chavs have.
Tony—I haven’t seen a confirmed lineup as of yet, but I’m on the lookout
this match, now that the clock has gone back overseas, starts at a very problematic time due to all my gambling concerns regarding the NFL…as such, I’ve retired to the basement where I have a couple mounted tvs so I can watch the match plus Red Zone at the same time…the lineup you’ve suggested could happen, but I pray it doesn’t, as it’s fraught with concerns at both ends of the pitch
this a bit of chatter online, following Gallas’s recent interview, regarding a potential MA fallout should Slot find a way to win the title in his first season…of course, it’s way to early to predict any such notion, as surely Slot will face some blips along the way, but there’s no doubt it would be an indictment on MA’s almost half-decade reign if it were to happen
Palmer potted another…he’s better than every City acquisition we’ve made combined, which includes our MIT
too early
Timber and Saka start as does Merino – all I have so far.
It’s more hopeful Marc.
according to the Metro, it’s Raya, Partey, White, Gabs, Timber, Rice, Merino, Tross, Saka, Marts and Havertz…this is definitely better than the lineup you had posted earlier…still no one with any real creative nous in the midfield, but at least we have some threats out wide, which should affect the manner in which Pool will attack, at least from a numbers sense…hopefully Saka is fit enough and not being pushed too quickly back onto the pitch
Pool’s lineup: Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister, Salah, Nunez, Diaz
Enjoy your multi tasking TRVL I hate this time KO as I might feel it’s better to watch the 2nd half tomorrow morning as I wake up at 7am no matter what time I get to sleep.
Agree too early to call yet for Pool, but hard to think that they will be there or thereabouts come May on their play thus far.
I see them with a high probability from their results. Certainly playing better than us this season.
Chelsea looking good for a young team and new manager.
They will be a problem next season as will Villa.
Looks like Partey at RB, White in the middle and Timber at LB, CM of Tross, Rice and Merino with Martinelli, Saka and Havertz the front 3.
The question is are Timber and Saka fit enough to start?
Tony
If Chelsea continue their current trend they’ll be pushing top 5. We could find ourselves in a serious scrap with Liverpool, Villa, Chelsea for a top 4 place.
I take it as a given City will be there.
Just think had we bought Palmer for our vacant 8 instead of Merino. Carlton has been way above his years this game.
Great game to watch end to end.
Agreed Marc the PL has picked up this season with some really good games to enjoy until we play, then it’s disjointed and poor most games scrapping for points.
Villa and Chelsea still look a bit suspect at the back but Mings coming back should tighten Villa up.
Marc—it’s all about windows and although our window is certainly still ajar, we should have taken better advantage of the fact that so many other “big” clubs were in a retooling mode…I believe if we had used our Havertz monies more wisely and hadn’t gone bargain shopping the previous winter, we would have won at least one title by now…MA doesn’t know how to thread a championship needle, so you need to surround him with a plethora of talent who can create their own off-script chances
Tony
Talking of poor and disjointed ManU are 1 down to West Ham.
They really are a basket case.
TRVL
The problem there is we’ve seen how Arteta responds to players who “think”.
Finish behind Liverpool and questions will start being asked, finish behind Chelsea as well and he should be sacked.
Marc—if they can shore up their backline, they’re going to be a real problem moving forward…they’re a way deeper side than us. it’s not even close…if they could find a way to swap Enzo for a CB of note, they could be the one to watch this time next year
Hammers 2:1 and Palace 1:0 up over Spuds it’s a good day to be a gooner just not sure about the evening?
Could be ugly for us…,
Palace have so far failed to win a PL game this season…UNTIL TODAY!
Spurs…😆
TRVL
Maresca took over a complete shambles 4 months ago and we’re seeing a definite progression as he implements his ideas etc. As you say they get the back line performing and they’re going to be a handful – they’re already a lot more entertaining going forward than us but Arteta’s only had 5 years, spent almost €800,000,000 and inherited £300,000,000 of talent.
Apparently you can’t expect miracles!